[00:00:00] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: ... Welcome, I am Marketing Expert and Business Coach Melissa Kellogg Lueck, and this is the Doing Business Like a Woman podcast, where we are exploring and teaching you how women are reinventing the way business is done and money is made to help you create greater impact and financial freedom, one business at a time.
[00:00:24] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Hello. Hi, friend. Hey friend. How's it going? I have been been on live in a while, so I was thinking about you and thought I would pop on and say hello and give you a little update on what's been happening as well as I have some big ideas to share with you today. And I spent last week in Dallas, Texas at the EU Women Network International Conference [00:01:00] Icon Conference, and it was amazing.
[00:01:03] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And if you've seen my posts, I've been posting pictures and stuff, and it was just an incredible time. We had such a fabulous time, and I got back on Sunday and back at my desk yesterday. It's been a little bit of a whirlwind, I'm not gonna lie, and I wanted to share with you today how I, my process for follow up because.
[00:01:30] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Networking or going to conferences, going to meet people and tell 'em what you do and all that great stuff is great, but that is not gonna be what ultimately creates clients. Networking is not gonna create clients for you. It's gonna be the follow up that does. And so that's where all of the power is, is in the follow-up and in building relationships.
[00:01:55] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And so I wanted to chat with you a little bit about that today, but before I get [00:02:00] to that, I wanna just offer. That I'm an introvert, right? So going to big events like the one I was at last week and even going to networking can really be taxing on my nervous system. And so I noticed when I got home that I really needed to just take some time to be with me and process, you know, I, I'm still dreaming all about the conference, so I know my brain is still processing.
[00:02:29] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Everything that I experienced last week. And but for those of you that are introverts, or even if you just have, you know, if it's a big lift for you to go to events and meet people in person, I wanna just normalize that, that it's completely normal that you feel that way and it's completely normal that when you get home from big events or times when you're very visible, that you need to care for yourself.
[00:02:58] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And so. I [00:03:00] have a three step process that I wanted to offer you that I practice that's really helped me to get back out there and just. You know, reenergize myself for this week and to keep the momentum going in my business. And so number one is in this process. So I would offer that this could be used anytime you are, you know, coming back from a conference like I did or after an event or after a long weekend, or.
[00:03:35] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Maybe it's just Monday morning, right? So number one is power up and powering up includes really getting centered and connected back with yourself. It includes grounding and regulating your nervous system and also going back to your why. And for me, anytime I, I [00:04:00] reconnect with my why and why I do the work that I do.
[00:04:04] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And I probably should give a little summary in case you don't know me. My name's Melissa Kellogg Leic, and I'm a coach for women entrepreneurs. And I love helping women entrepreneurs create financial freedom through entrepreneurship. And I do that by teaching them. Confident, consistent client flow and teaching marketing and helping them to be successful and bringing in consistent revenue and clients.
[00:04:33] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: So, so when I reconnect back to that, why. That it helps me power up. Right. And then the second thing that we always have to do when we come back from a big event, long conference, like I was at, is catch up. Right? It's about catching up with, you know, maybe the work that you missed out on. During that time that you were gone, or catching up on email, catching up [00:05:00] with clients, even catching up in your home, right?
[00:05:03] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Like I had to get home and do the grocery shopping and get the dog to the groomer and get my son to his teeth cleaning appointment to the dentist, and you know, all those little things. So there's some catch up and just. Always making space for that. And then the third thing that I really wanna talk to you about today is follow up.
[00:05:23] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And so that's a third part of our process. We've got a follow up and follow up is super important because that's where you really have the opportunity to get the return on your investment for going to the conference, going to the event, being away from your office, your family, all of those things. And so part of my plan in, in creating a return on my investment of the time and money that I was away is having a really solid process for [00:06:00] follow up.
[00:06:00] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And so I wanted to share that with you today. And in fact, I put together a checklist. With this process. So if you want the checklist, make sure and just comment checklist or that you wanted or something of that sort right here on this video, and I will. Send you the checklist. And so number one that I did as I was on the plane flying home, I started pulling together all of the, everything that I gathered, you know, all the business cards, the connections, the notes that I made of people that I wanted to follow up with.
[00:06:36] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: I started to gather that. And I put all of the business cards that I was given, I put them in a spreadsheet. I, and I just did that on my phone, right. I put a very simple spreadsheet that I, when I got home, was able to upload into my CRM. And so I just collected all of that, so I had all of that [00:07:00] ready to go.
[00:07:00] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: So that's number one thing. And then the second thing is within the first couple of days, first week, ideally within 24 to 48 hours after you return, send a personal follow-up. Communication, whether in whatever style is best for you or that you like, whether it's an email or a text, or a dm, however you like to communicate, or you could do, you know, LinkedIn messages, whatever, however you'd like to connect with people, follow up with a personal message and say.
[00:07:35] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: You know, Hey Susie, it was really great to meet you. Make sure you put something in there personal, like, I'm really glad we got to sit together at lunch. I really enjoyed our conversation about that session that we were in, or you know, however you want to say that, but just. Send a personal note. This is not a call to, you know, dump everybody into your email [00:08:00] management system and start just sending emails, right?
[00:08:04] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: It's a personal connection email, and I love the personal feel of that and your recipient will as well. And so as part of that. You also wanna offer a next step? So what I have been doing, what I have done, I sent out all my emails yesterday with everybody that I connected with and I, you know, so it was great to meet you.
[00:08:26] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And I put something personal in there about, you know, what I remember about being with them, or meeting them, or chatting with them. And then I either invited them to a one, either or both invited them to a one-on-one connection call. Which I love doing those. And I also offered to send them the checklist that I was chat, talking with you about that, that off that gives this process, right?
[00:08:55] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Because I think so many of the folks I met Will, and [00:09:00] so many people that I meet when I'm out networking, never follow up, right? And so, as I said earlier, the fortune is in the follow up, right? So. Make sure you're following up. So I suggest that you think about what can you offer, what can you give? We're not asking or requesting anything from them.
[00:09:22] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: We're thinking about how can I get to know them better? How can I build a relationship? What can I offer them? So I offer, you know, I put together this checklist that I'm offering, and so think about. What you can give them, not what you wanna get from them. Right. And then the fourth thing, the fourth step I, I suggest is showing up online.
[00:09:48] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: This is a really great opportunity to share with your audience, whether they were with you at the event or not. Share with them how it impacted you, what you [00:10:00] learned. Share some photos or videos or reels about the experience and just enjoy that energy. That you came back with, right? And so share, maybe you can write a post or record a video that just shares some of your insights about the event.
[00:10:20] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And then also the next thing would be to keep the connecting. Alive to keep the connections alive. So all the folks that you met, all the folks that you sent that personal email to think about how you wanna keep those connections alive. Do you want to host a, like a virtual get together Vir Virtual Coffee chat, or?
[00:10:43] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Uh, you know, something where you all get together as a group. Do you want to suggest, you know, having a, a one-on-one connection call with them or getting together with them for coffee in person? Or what is the next step in the relationship to just keep the conversation going? And it's [00:11:00] not about pitching.
[00:11:00] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: It's not about selling, it's about giving, still, it's about creating connection, creating a relationship. Right. And then finally track, I wanna encourage you to track everyone that you are connecting with, whether it's in a, in a spreadsheet, or in A CRM, and make sure that you. Have a place where we can take notes and make notes on the conversations so that you can keep those connections going and, and then continue following up.
[00:11:33] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: So maybe you have a one-on-one connection call with them. Then you wanna think about, well, what can I, you know, how do we wanna continue this relationship? And then make an, offer an invitation right to, to for the next step in your client journey. And if you don't know what your client journey is, that's a really great.
[00:11:53] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Thing for us to, I'm happy to help you with that. It's a really great thing for us to discuss if you would like to do that, and make [00:12:00] sure that you have a place where you can prompt yourself to follow up with them to continue following up with them, right? So maybe you send the initial connection email, you have the one-on-one connection call with them, and then you just follow up with them either in a week.
[00:12:20] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Every week for a little while. Maybe it's once a month for a while, but just keep the relationship going because this is how business is built and. This sounds simple and sounds common sense, but common sense is not very common. Right. And I know myself, I have been guilty of not following up and you know, making big investments.
[00:12:45] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: In time and money to go to conferences or events and not following up and not creating my return on investment. That is our responsibility as entrepreneurs, as CEOs, to create that return on [00:13:00] investment. And it can be done very, very simply. And I wanna just encourage you that the whole point of this is to create connection.
[00:13:07] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: It's not trying to think about, okay, now when can I sell them? It's creating connection and offering to serve. And so you will know if you go, if you go into it with that spirit, with that thinking, then you will know when it's the right time to offer to help them say, oh, that's exactly the work that I do.
[00:13:28] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: I can help you with that. And you will be surprised at how, you know, the more you give and serve, the more it comes back to you, I promise. But yeah, just, and the, the point of all of this is not. To have it perfect or you know, perfectly organized and curated. For example, this checklist I created, I got the idea for it when I was at the airport waiting for my plane.
[00:13:56] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: I had some extra time. I just started [00:14:00] chatting with talking with chat GPT about some ideas and it really helped me to flesh out some ideas around how I myself can, can follow up and have a process and then how I can turn that into something that can help you as well. So I'm doing it and you're an offer.
[00:14:20] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: I'm offering to. Offering it to you to help you as well. So it's kind of fun, right? So as I'm doing it, you can do it as well. So let's do it together. Let's keep connected. And because marketing is all about connecting and serving your future clients, and that can be super simple and it's super effective.
[00:14:40] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: So say hi. If you are here, and if you're watching in the replay. Give me a, a good hello, and I'm so glad that you're here with me today. It's great to see you all, and that's what I have for you. So remember, keep following up and keep the [00:15:00] connections going, keep the relationships going. That's what our businesses are built on.
[00:15:04] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: And if I can serve you and help you in, you know. Putting your personalized plan together for your follow ups, including, you know, brainstorming your client journey. Reach out to me. I would love to help you with that. To help you really begin creating or continue and build upon the current business that you have and get to a place in your business where you can confidently rely on yourself and your business to always.
[00:15:34] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Be bring, bringing in clients and revenue. And so I would love to serve you in that way. And that's all I have for you today. I am going to sign off and go get some dinner going and I hope you guys have a fabulous rest of your evening, and I will talk to you again very soon. All right, bye.
[00:15:58] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Hey, [00:16:00] if you like this podcast, I wanna invite you to become part of my community. The link is in the show notes. Each Friday, I'm gonna deliver to your inbox my weekly celebration, as well as my thoughts on the latest and business and marketing. I wanna keep you in the know about my upcoming events.
[00:16:17] Melissa Kellogg Lueck: Free trainings, book clubs, all the fun things, even some free gifts. And of course, I'm gonna let you know about these new podcast episodes. I'll see you there.
